FOX Sports President and COO Mark Silverman will step away from his day-to-day responsibilities in the coming months, transitioning into a consulting role with the company, FOX Sports announced Tuesday. The move marks the end of a significant leadership chapter during one of the network’s most successful growth periods.
Silverman joined FOX Sports in 2018 after more than a decade leading Big Ten Network, where he served as president from its launch in 2006. Across both stops, Silverman built a reputation as a steady executive with a strong focus on collaboration, long-term partnerships, and scalable growth in an evolving sports media landscape.
During his tenure at FOX Sports, Silverman worked closely with CEO and Executive Producer Eric Shanks as the network reached record-setting highs across multiple properties. FOX Sports experienced strong momentum driven by its NFL and college football coverage, along with global soccer events, Major League Baseball, and other marquee programming. The network has consistently positioned itself as a major rights holder and production leader across linear television and digital platforms.
In a statement, Silverman reflected on his time with the company, calling the experience both fulfilling and emotional.
“I am immensely proud of all that we have been able to accomplish at FOX Sports and the 11 prior years at BTN”, said Silverman. “It has been an incredibly rewarding experience working with all the talented people at FOX and creating memories that will last a lifetime. While bittersweet, I look forward to embarking on my next chapter.”
Shanks praised Silverman’s impact beyond traditional business metrics, emphasizing his influence on company culture and partner relationships.
“Mark has been an amazing partner through this incredible period of growth at FOX Sports. His contributions go way beyond the bottom line. Mark’s contributions to the culture here and the relationship with our partners is something we can all be proud of. Always a fun and inspirational friend, I’ll miss him around the office every day, but we will continue to press forward and work on projects that keep FOX Sports on top.”
Silverman’s shift to a consulting role suggests continued involvement in select projects and strategic initiatives, even as FOX Sports prepares for a leadership transition. The company said a successor will be named in the near future, but John Ourand of Puck reported that Brad Zager, FOX Sports president of production and operations/executive producer, will be succeeding Silverman. FOX Sports has not confirmed the reporting.
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